Family Filmgoer

February 12, 1999

Payback

(R, 102 min.)

Too bad this handsome, tough-talking, neo-noir thriller deteriorates into such a bloodbath, making it inappropriate for all but older high-schoolers. The R reflects point-blank shootings and much head-banging, toe-smashing and groin-kicking. Women get hit a lot, and the script features strong profanity and gratuitous slurs against Asians. Most of the characters smoke and drink heavily; one dies of a heroin overdose. Other factors include strong verbal and visual sexual innuendo and nonexplicit sexual situations, though one is a sadomasochistic encounter with a prostitute.

Mel Gibson plays Porter, a bad guy trying to get his money back from even worse guys. A professional thief, Porter was betrayed and robbed by his wife and partner, shot and left for dead. But he's back and coming single-mindedly after the money he's owed, taking on his ex-partner, two crime organizations and crooked cops. Well-written and -acted, with Gibson lending Bogeyesque panache to the hard-nosed dialogue and narration, the movie has a faded, timeless look. The over-the-top violence brings it up to date -- and kills it.

Rushmore

(R, 93 min.)

The offbeat tone and side-winding humor of Rushmore will delight some high-schoolers and repel others. This narrative about a geeky prep school kid who fools himself into thinking he's vying with a rich married man for the affections of a pretty teacher tells no typical coming-of-age tale. The R covers profanity and crude verbal sexual innuendo, drinking and smoking, and photos of naked women.

Consistently droll, inventive and unusually designed, the film follows the adventures of Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), who can't cut the academic mustard but loves his school, Rushmore. Max is hard to like -- a conniver oblivious to how his big talk bores people. He finagles a donation to the school from a wealthy alum, Mr. Blume (Bill Murray) all to impress Miss Cross (Olivia Williams), on whom Max has a crush. She wisely puts off the boy while Blume, a sad but amiable man, wins her affection. At this, Max goes slightly berserk, engaging Blume in a childish war of dirty tricks. Among its many charms is the film's implication that the most creative kids are not always A-students.

P.S. For High-Schoolers: Take another look at mainstream Hollywood films like Ferris Bueller's Day Off (PG-13, 1986) or Risky Business (R, 1983). You'll get a clearer idea of what makes Rushmore different. It starts with a hero who's not immediately likable, and a slightly warped view of life.

Jane Horwitz reviews movies for The Washington Post and other publications.